Greetings!

I am in the process of writing a book about the 25th Wisconsin Infantry

Regiment during the American civil war. I happened to find the subject Web

site and was especially interested in the history of St. Peter and Paul's

Church during the Sioux Uprising of 1862. I found it interesting that the

church history notes that patrols of soldiers were sent out and never seen

again, presumably killed by the Sioux, and that finally even the captain was

killed.

The reason I am writing is to help you update this history -- after 139

years! While patrols may have gone out, I can assure the people of Richmond

that none of the soldiers of Co. G, 25th Wisconsin were killed by the Sioux.

The patrols were simply reassigned to other villages. In fact, the 25th saw

no fighting with the Sioux whatsoever, and the regiment survived their

Minnesota stay quite well, although in early December the entire regiment

marched back to Winona. Some Companies of the 25th covered more than 240

miles in only 10 days, despite poor shoes and a lack of blankets and warm

clothing -- in the December weather!

After a brief stay at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin, the 25th was sent

south to fight in the civil war, participating in the Vicksburg, Meridian,

and Atlanta campaigns, and the "March to the Sea." In June 1865 the regiment

participated in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington D.C. and the men

were mustered out of service shortly afterwards.

I thought that perhaps you and the church would be interested to know the

ultimate fate of Co. G (which was made up of men mostly from Buffalo County,

Wisconsin -- Alma, Durand, Gilmanton, Mondovi) of the 25th Wisconsin Regiment

to help provide some closure to this chapter of the history of St. Peter and

Paul's Church.

With very best regards,

Frederick Beseler